Water Activities at Camping Les Isles
Lake Passy
Because this site doesn’t have a pool, I’m going straight in to talking about the gorgeous lake on-site. Lake Passy absolutely surprised us with its beauty. Having just stayed at Les Fontaines, I thought nothing could beat Lake Annecy, well, it can.
This natural lake is surrounded by beaches and grassy play areas. There are parks, multi sports areas, water inflatables, pedalos, treetop climbing, mini golf and so much more all around the edge of the lake. It’s easy to see why the campsite is so basic when it has all of this just meters away.
We loved starting our mornings with a lakeside walk and watching the mist lift off the water to reveal stunning mountain panoramas. Mike actually went for a run around it and nearly got attacked by an angry goose though, so definitely try and avoid those.
The water was clean and surprisingly warm (often ~20-24°C in July/August). I can’t explain how surreal it is looking at snowy mountains whilst swimming in a warm lake. Because it’s a pebbly lake, you may want to wear lake shoes, but the quality is clear and great for wild swimming.
There are plenty of toilets surrounding the shore and also two lake bars are available for refreshments.
Watersports
Les Iles campers have direct access to all the water sports at the lake’s leisure base. Kayaking, paddleboarding, windsurfing, and pedalo rentals are offered next to the beach. In low season this seemed to be open on weekends and wednesdays but in July and August I believe it was open daily.
The aqua park, an inflatable obstacle course, was open during our stay and looked like great fun, but as the minimum age was 6, we didn’t take part in it this time (roll on next year when we have a 6 year old!).
Fishing
Whilst we are not a family of fishers, our 5 year old loved being able to swim with the fish and sticking her goggles on to look at them. We saw many families fishing round the lake and mornings are particularly popular for this.
The lake has trout, pike, perch, and other species but you will need to purchase a fishing permit in the town or online. Obviously, fishing is not allowed in the designated swimming area but there is much more space in the surrounding areas.
Campsite Facilities
Les Iles is well-equipped with the essential facilities to make your stay comfortable. But don’t confuse it with a resort. It is still a very basic, rustic campsite.
Receptions, Customer Services and Check in
We checked in at the main reception. As this is a Tohapi campsite, they are a sister partner of Eurocamp, and everything is done through the main reception.
The main reception is at the entrance in a wooden chalet-style building and the staff are welcoming with skills in both French and English (potentially more). Check in was smooth. We paid our tourist tax and eco responsibility bill (I think around 6 euros total), were handed a map and keys and given all the information about the campsite.
The reception doubles as a info point for local tourism; there’s a rack of brochures for area attractions and the staff gave us plenty of information about the Mont-Blanc tramway tour which we planned to do the next day.
For our mobile home, check in time was 4pm and check out time was 10am, these are a little tight, but if you contact ahead there may be some leeway especially in the quieter out of season weeks. If you’re camping, pitches are often available by lunchtime.
Play Areas & Sports Field
The play areas on-site were fairly basic, as they didn’t need to be fancy when there are fancy ones over the road. For this section I will discuss both the on-site and lake surrounding facilities.
Play park (on-site)
The park on-site was less of a park and more of an obstacle course. Still our 2 and 5 year olds enjoyed balance beams and climbing. The area was sanded and had seats for parents to sit on (when they weren’t testing the equipment). I did think from photos I had seen previously there were more parks on-site, but I definitely didn’t see any.
Play Park (on the lake)
This play park was great. There were swings, slides, climbing frames and sandy play areas. Mike managed to hurt his foot, which is still sore 2 weeks later, by climbing on one of the big hills as fast as the kids do (watch the Youtube video to see what I mean).
Table tennis
There were 4 table tennis tables at the campsite, near the play area and extra around the lake. Equipment could be borrowed from the main reception. On Summer evenings I imagine this area to be quite a social hub.
Mini golf
There was a mini golf course around the lake, at the same place where you can hire pedalos. The course looked a bit old school, but it’s a fun way to spend an hour or so.
Petanque
A staple of any French campsite. The Boules courts were next to the table tennis and playground. Both evenings we saw groups of adults playing pétanque with a glass of wine and in Summer the campsite occasionally organises pétanque tournaments as part of the entertainment schedule. You can borrow boules from the reception if you didn’t bring your own. There are also extra Petanque courts around the lake.
Volleyball
Next to the Petanque courts there is a small volleyball/badminton court and there are even more available around the lake.
Acrobranch
Around the lake there is a great tree-top climbing adventure available. This was closed during our stay as outside of school holidays it’s only open Wednesdays and weekends. However, the course looked amazing.
Games Room & TV
We were surprised that such a basic site had its own games room and TV area. This was the room next to the play area, part of the wooden chalket that hosts reception. There was air hockey, table football, grab machines, pool and a relaxing sofa in front of the TV. Assembly you could ask at the main reception for the remote control.
Animation and entertainment for kids and adults
During our out of season (late June) stay, there was no entertainment or animation taking place. During the peak season July & August, a few times a week there will be low-key entertainment. Things like live music and cheese tastings, but this isn’t a party campsite with loud discos every night. People come here for peace, nature and a chance to unwind.
Kids Clubs & Facilities
In the high season there is a small kids club for 4-10 year olds. It runs 5 days a week from 10am to 12. The high season starts around the first week of July running till the last week of August.
Bars, Restaurants and Takeaway
Despite being a small campsite, Les Isles boasts a lovely bar/restaurant. It’s open to the public which means it has life and atmosphere even when the campsite itself is empty.
The bar serves breakfast pancakes, coffee, soft drinks, ice creams, snacks and a full range of beers, wine, and cocktails. There is also a menu of main meals. We LOVED the burgers so much we actually ended up getting them two nights in a row.
Our daughters got the pancakes with Nutella at breakfast time and they were delicious, warm and fluffy. Everything in the restaurant was hand cooked and whilst the prices were a little steep, the quality and atmosphere was great.
One thing to note though is that there were a lot of flies around, so if you have any repellents, now is the time to wear it.
Campsite Shop
There was no campsite shop and the nearest shop was a drive away. We shopped at Intermarché SUPER Domancy and it had a wide range of food options available.
WIFI
Wi-Fi is available throughout the campsite, but it comes with an extra fee and some limitations. We were able to connect at our mobile home, though the signal was extremely patchy and during our 30 minutes free, we could hardly load a web page – so as you can imagine, it didn’t make me want to buy it. Our phone signal was also quite weak here.
Bike Hire
We didn’t notice any bike hire stations here during our trip, which seems unusual for such a bike heavy location. Perhaps it is more of a high season service or that the bikes are kept out of view.
Pets
Pets are welcome at Camping Les Iles under certain conditions. one dog per pitch/accommodation is allowed and Category 1 & 2 breeds (considered dangerous, like pit bulls) are not permitted. There is typically a small fee for pets. Les Isles is surrounded by wonderful walking paths so it’s a great location to bring your dog. For peace of mind, know that there are veterinarians in Sallanches (~15 min drive) in case of any pet emergencies.
Shower blocks & Laundry
There are 3 shower/toilet blocks spaced around the site. These buildings are a bit older style (think 1990s tile decor) but kept very clean. As we were in a mobile home we didn’t need to use these but I did have a sneak peek in, enough to see that they had separate areas for baby changing.
For washing clothes, there is a launderette on site. It’s basically a couple of washing machines and a dryer located in one of the sanitary blocks. This was a wifi connection machine, which is a pain in the backside with low signal to be honest, so we decided not to wash our final load here.
Accessibility
The roads had a lot of pot holes and although the site wasn’t hilly I would say the terrain would be hard to navigate in a wheelchair. That being said, key areas like reception, bar/restaurant, and the main sanitary block all have ramp access or are ground-level without steps.
Day Trips
Les Iles is excellently located for exploring the broader Haute-Savoie region and even a bit of Italy/Switzerland.
Mont Blanc tramway
This is potentially one of the most expensive days out we have ever done. Before we arrived I feared it wouldn’t be worth it but my goodness. What incredible views, scenery and experience it was. The historic cog railway climbs from Le Fayet (just 10 minutes’ drive away) up to the Nid d’Aigle at over 2,300 metres. We started at Saint Gervais, which was a lovely town to stroll around and got off the train at Bellevue as it told us there was a children's play area there, though we couldn’t find it. We did however stop for some extortionately priced lunch at the snack bar there. Note: bring a picnic.
Chamonix
Around 30 minutes by car, Chamonix is one of France’s most famous alpine towns and offers a wide mix of shops, restaurants, cable cars and mountain views. You can ride the Aiguille du Midi cable car to a panoramic viewing platform at 3,842 metres.
Geneva
An hour’s drive brings you to Geneva, Switzerland. The city is known for its large lake, Jet d’Eau fountain, Red Cross museum, and of course – chocolate. It’s worth checking border crossing requirements if you’re driving over (e.g., Swiss motorway vignette).
Mont Blanc Tunnel
I’m classing this as a day out as it blooming cost more than one. This 11.6 km tunnel connects France and Italy. On our journey back from Norcenni campsite in Italy we had to take the tunnel and were completely surprised that the toll was over 50e.
white-water rafting
Available from several companies along the Arve River (many based in Chamonix), rafting trips are suitable for families with older children. It’s best to book in advance and check age and height restrictions.
Paragliding
This is a big activity in the region. You’ll often spot dozens of paragliders in the sky on clear days. Tandem flights are possible from Passy or Chamonix for adults and teens.
Ski indoor 4810
Located in Passy, this indoor slope offers an unusual way to experience skiing outside of winter. It’s a fun activity if you're looking for something unique or the weather turns bad. Check opening times and pricing in advance.
Available Accommodation
We booked a 2 bedroom comfort XL accommodation, but when we arrived noticed that we had 3 bedrooms. I am unsure if we were put in the wrong mobile home or if we were given a sneaky upgrade, but we couldn’t complain at the amount of space and storage this holiday home offered. However, It definitely wasn’t the cleanest accommodation we’ve stayed in unfortunately, which was disappointing. I did let the receptionist know the issues when we left, so hopefully the team will pay more attention to it now. I can only assume that being low season they perhaps weren’t as trained yet.
The site is definitely more of a campers site. With around 200 pitches dedicated to tent/camper/caravan – ers. These pitches seemed flat, with electric hook-ups and well placed for accessing sanitary blocks. I don't think every pitch had water, but there was always a point nearby.
The rest were dedicated to mobile homes, some of which were owned, and the rest available to holiday makers like us. Ours had 3 bedrooms, a small kitchen with microwave, shower room, separate toilet, and a deck outside. They are not luxury villas but very functional holiday homes. We had an aircon unit which was great on hot days, but probably not all that necessary as it’s also a fairly shady campsite.
For advice on what accommodation options are best for you, head to our Eurocamp accommodation comparison page.
Should I Book Direct Through The Campsite Or Through an Operator? (How To Book)
The campsite is owned by Tohapi, which is a sister of Eurocamp. They are all owned by the European camping group, so prices and experience are pretty much the same, whoever you book through. However, the perks of booking through Eurocamp, like we did, means that you can get discounted ferry travel and UK customer service.
Getting Around the Area (Do You Need a Car?)
Do you need a car at Les Iles? The answer depends on what you plan to do:
Within the Campsite & Immediate Area you do not need a car to enjoy it. Everything on-site is walkable. The lake, playground, restaurant are all a short stroll away. If you plan to spend your days swimming, biking locally, and relaxing at camp, a car is not necessary on a daily basis.
However, for shopping and exploring, yes, you will definitely need a car, unless you are good on a bike or willing to use infrequent taxis.
There is a train that runs alongside the campsite so if you are proficient on a bike and willing to mix it with train travel, then yes, you could potentially manage without a car exploring. Though you may miss some of the more rural towns and villages this way.
Personally, as a family I would recommend travelling here with a car, even if it’s just for the supermarket. It makes life with young children much easier to plan around.
How To Get To Les Iles (driving directions)
How to get to Les Iles depends on where you’re coming from, but here are the general directions and options:
Address 245 Route des Lacs, Lac de Passy, 74190 Passy, France
GPS coordinates 45.924017° N, 6.650471° E
By Car (from within France): The campsite is conveniently located not far from the A40 Autoroute Blanche (White Motorway) which runs through the Arve valley. If coming from the north (Geneva direction), you’d take A40 to Exit 21 (Passy / Chamonix)
After the exit, follow signs for Passy. You will drive through the town of Passy/Le Fayet or around it, then take the D13/D1205 towards the leisure park “Base de Loisirs des Iles”. The campsite is sign posted from there.
By Train: The nearest train station is Sallanches – Combloux – Megève station, about 6.7 km away. Another is Le Fayet/St-Gervais station ~4 km. These stations are on the main SNCF line from Geneva/Annecy to Chamonix and down to the Rhône valley. If coming from Paris, you can take a TGV to Annecy and a regional to Sallanches, or TGV to Bellegarde then to St Gervais. It’s viable, then hop in a taxi to the site.
Should I Hire A Car?
If you are flying to Geneva or Lyon then I would definitely consider hiring a car. Whilst it isn’t needed for the immediate surroundings, it is helpful for exploring the alps and doing your shopping.
There are plenty of car rental options available at Geneva or Lyon airports. Book in advance for the best rates, especially during summer months when cars get booked up.
Ferry Port
If you’re driving from the UK, the main ferry ports to consider are in the north of France:
Dieppe: This is the closest ferry port to Lake Passy and Les Iles Campsite. It’s around 770 km away and takes around 8 hours plus stops to drive to.
Calais: This is a little further away (870km) and would take closer to 9 hours, but the crossing from the UK is much faster and prices are cheaper.
Caen: This is always our preferred crossing for an overnight ferry, meaning we’re fresh in the day with luxury travel. However it costs more than Calais and takes longer than Dieppe in this circumstance at around 8 hr 7(838,4 km)
Given the distance, many UK campers will either do an overnight somewhere or even plan an extended road trip with stops. Realistically the nearest ferry port doesn’t overly matter hugely because it’s always going to be a long drive anyway. Calais is the default for many.
Cleanliness and Maintenance
Whilst our accommodation wasn’t the cleanest, the campsite itself was very clean and well maintained. The lake area was always clean and tidy and we have no complaints at all about the cleanliness of the local area.
We did feel the road could do with some patching up as there were a lot of potholes around, not great for the car or our ankles.
The problems with our accommodation weren’t ideal. The beds were covered in dust and sand, under the beds hadn’t been swept and were covered in dust, our feet were black after the first few hours of being there. It definitely needed an extra eye. If you are renting a holiday home, pack some cleaning wipes just in case and don’t be afraid to ask the staff to come back and reclean any bits you think they have missed. They would much rather the ability to show their great customer service skills and leave you happy with a clean mobile home than to have you annoyed all week.
Family Friendliness
Thanks to the size, Les Iles is a great site for young families looking for peace and nature. Thanks to the lake, our family spent time grounding ourselves in the shallow waters, enjoying the scenery and riding about on bikes and scooters. I do think teenagers may get a little bored on the site, but if they are old enough to be able to explore the sports and facilities off the campsite, then I’m sure they’ll make friends and have fun too. It totally depends on the type of family you have. If you have a family that need all thrills campsites, then no, it’s probably not for your family. However, if you are content with calm, quiet and relaxing in nature then yes, this’ll work for your family.
Pricing and Value for Money
We spent £89 including our eco tax and tourist tax contributions. Whilst this was more expensive than our 2 night break in Annecy, we did have direct lake access. I personally feel it was worth the money, I mean it’s less than 45 euros a night to stay in a 3 bed holiday home. You can’t even get a basic hotel room that cheap!
Drinks and food were reasonably expensive and childrens Haribo ice cream was an extortionate 4 euros. However, the bar had happy hour drinks deals around 6pm, which almost made up for it.
In general, expect to pay a lot anywhere in the Alps area, it’s one of the most prestigious locations in France, so don’t expect a cheap holiday. If you are trying to holiday on a budget, here are my tips for maximising your budget with Eurocamp, but some quick tips:
- Cook your own meals in the accommodation
- Use the free activities like walks, parks and swimming in the lake
- Buy shop ice cream and drinks instead of bars
- Keep an eye on booking deals
Conclusion and our experience
Our Experience at Les Iles
Camping Les Iles might not offer the full resort experience, but what it lacks, it makes up for in atmosphere, scenery, and simplicity. Our stay was peaceful, scenic, and full of nature. We spent more time outside than usual, walking, swimming, biking, playing, and just enjoying being in such a beautiful setting.
The lack of pool didn’t bother us as much as I expected and our children were absolutely content with the lake. We loved the bar and the food on offer there. All that being said we do think the site could improve slightly with their accommodation cleaning and by fixing the pot holey roads.
This is a site best suited to families who want a back-to-nature break in a spectacular location. You won’t find waterslides, dance parties & luxury lodges, but you will find calm, fresh air, and freedom.
Would we return? I actually think we would. Perhaps a short 4 night trip in our tent to explore the wider area fully. I feel we only just scratched the surface of the beautiful location with our trip.
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FAMILY CAMPING EUROPE SCORE
FAQ’s
Are The Mobiles Close Together?
It did feel reasonably tight in the sense that we didn’t have much of a pitch or much room to park the car, but thanks to the hedge rows between the accommodations, it never actually felt cramped or overlooked in any way. Each unit had a sense of privacy and we didn’t feel at all on-top of eachother like we have at some campsites.
Is The Campsite Flat?
Yes – the campsite terrain is predominantly flat and even. It’s on a valley floor next to the lake, at roughly 580m elevation. There might be a very gentle slope in a couple of areas, but nothing hilly or steep within the campsite.
Are There Mosquitos?
We didn’t notice any mosquitos but plenty of annoying flies. We recommend bringing repellent and maybe keeping your accommodation screens/netting closed at dusk. We had a citronella candle on our deck which helped.
Do You Need To Wear A Wristband?
There were no wristbands during our stay. Some larger campsites use wristbands to control access to pools or facilities, but here it wasn’t necessary.
Do Men Have To Wear Swim Trunks?
Since there’s no on-site chlorinated pool, this rule isn’t enforced at the campsite. If you swim in the lake, normal swim shorts are perfectly fine (and commonly worn). The French rule requiring men to wear tight-fitting swim briefs typically applies to public swimming pools.
Are There BBQs On Site?
Yes, barbecues are allowed on site. Our Eurocamp mobile home came with a gas bbq but charcoal bbqs are prohibited.
What's The Weather Like In Spring/Summer?
Spring: You’ll get mild days (15-20°C) and cool nights (5-10°C)
Summer: highs usually range 25-30°C in July/August, occasionally hotter during a heatwave. Nights in summer are cool and comfortable (maybe 15°C). Even during our stay in late June the mountains still had snowy peaks, so if you plan to hike or head to higher altitudes, you might still need a jacket.
Can You Park On Your Pitch/Emplacement?
Yes, each pitch or mobile home emplacement comes with parking for at least one vehicle, usually right next to your tent or mobile. We had a dedicated spot beside our mobile home for our car though it was really tight.
Can You Take Pets On The Campsite?
Yes. Typically one pet per pitch/accommodation, and you may need to pay a small daily fee. Dogs must be on a lead on site and cleaned up after, but they are warmly welcomed (even at the bar terrace)
Where's The Nearest Supermarket?
The nearest large supermarket is the Carrefour Market in Passy (at the “Passy Le Fayet” commercial zone) about 3 km (5 minutes drive) from the campsite. There’s also a huge Intermarché and a Lidl in Sallanches, around 6 km away. We actually ended up shopping at the Intermarche in Domancy which felt fairly close.
Is It Loud In The Evenings?
No, there was no evening noise during our stay in late June.
What Can We Do If It Rains?
While we lucked out with mostly sunny weather, there are a few rainy dav activities like the on-site games and TV room, Saint-Gervais Thermal Spa (for mums that need a break), Saint-Gervais Ice rink or Passy indoor ski centre. Fortunately, summer rains in the Alps are often short thunderstorms or overnight showers. Extended rain is less common in mid-summer.
Can I Use My Transferwise Card On SIte?
Yes, you can. The TransferWise (now known as Wise) card is a Mastercard debit, and it worked everywhere we tried in France. The campsite accepts credit/debit cards at reception for payments (we paid our tourist tax with a card). The bar and restaurant also took card for any amount (no minimum). So using your Wise card to pay for on-site expenses, or at the supermarket, etc., is fine – it will just charge in euros with likely a good exchange rate (that’s the advantage of Wise).
